OPTIMIZATION OF THE BIOMASS PRODUCTION FROM SPROUTS OF NEO-TROPICAL VEGETABLE SPECIES

Resumen

Seed germination improves the nutritional quality of plant foods; since they increase the contents
and availability of essential nutrients and reduce the levels of antinutrients. A considerable
number of species have been studied, but to date, there are few studies on vegetable species of
the neo-tropics. The aim of this study was the evaluation and optimization of mineral nutrient
solutions [Adelusi-Oseni (AO), Ruakura (Ru), Maeda (M)] and their combinations with compost
extracts (EC1, EC2, and EC3) obtained from three different solvents, on the development of
biomass of four neo-tropical vegetable plants in Mexico: pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), papalo
[Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass.], pipitza (Porophyllum linaria Cav.), and purslane (Portulaca
oleracea L.). The hypothesis was that biomass production achieved with the nutrient solutions
would lead to the highest yield for each seed compared to the control. Germination was carried
out in Petri dishes with cotton pads as substrate, adding 5 mL of nutrient solution, along with
a control grown with water, in a photoperiod of 12 h; continuing germination until completing
96 h. San Cristóbal experimental design was applied to the nutrient mixtures with the greatest
positive impact on the production of biomass. An ANOVA was carried out with Tukey and
Dunnet means comparison tests. For pumpkin sprouts, solution EC3E2 managed to increase
seedling growth by 395.2 % in comparison to the control; EC2A displayed a greater elongation
in comparison with the control of 84.7 % for papal sprouts; EC2A produced an increase of 15.8 %
in pipitza. In purslane, EC2A produced an increase of 53.7 %. Nutrition with compost extracts
can favour the production of biomass from sprouts.